Klavan becomes Reds' fifth summer signing

Carl Markham
– 21 July 2016 02:30 AM

Ragnar Klavan

Liverpool have signed centre back Ragnar Klavan from Bundesliga side Augsburg on a long-term contract.

The 30-year-old, who has more than 100 caps for Estonia, made 40 appearances for Augsburg last season and offers Liverpool some much-needed defensive cover following the sale of Martin Skrtel to Fenerbahce and the release of Kolo Toure.

Two other Liverpool defenders, Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez, are set to miss the start of the season with achilles injuries.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reports indicated that Klavan had cost Liverpool an initial £4.2million and had signed a three-year contract.

"It's hard to put it into words, because it's been a dream of mine for 22 years to come to the Premier League and be a part of this amazing club, Liverpool," Klavan said.

"The Premier League is the most attractive league in the world and you always have amazing players here. This is the home of football."

Meanwhile, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists there is currently "no job opportunity" for him at the club despite being in contact with manager Klopp.

The 36-year-old midfielder is into the final six months of his contract with Los Angeles Galaxy and accepts his playing days are numbered. And while there has been much speculation about him linking up with his former club in some capacity, nothing is in the pipeline at the moment.

"People need to understand that Jurgen Klopp is his own man, he's got his own team of people around him, that he is very happy and content with," Gerrard exclusively told virtual reality company Laduma.

"Of course I've got a huge Liverpool connection and Liverpool is in my heart and always will be but there's nothing to really comment on.

"There's no future decision to work with Klopp, I get on really well with him, we're in contact but there's no job opportunity there at the moment.

"There is absolutely nothing to say on my future beyond this MLS season at the moment.

"I know I'm in the twilight, I know I'm coming to the end pretty soon.

"I just want to try and enjoy every last moment really. The one thing I'm going to miss [is] walking on to the pitch.

"I'm going to miss that buzz very much because that's what I play the game for."